The new year of 2017 is fast approaching. I am sitting on the balcony of my new 3-storey townhouse (well, it’s nearly 40years old, yet, it’s new to me), and I’m watching the last sunset of 2016 slowly change its colours from canary yellow to dusky orange and purple to evening grey. Even with my limited vision it’s a spectacular sight. The many variety of birds are calling to their friends, as a final farewell to this year before they settle down to sleep. The crickets beat a constant staccato rhythm, while the fellow next plays old jazz and softly blows his trumpet in tune (sometimes…he’s learning). What a peaceful and relaxing end to a crazy, exciting and somewhat challenging year.
On New Years Day this year, I was relaxing with friends, Rosemary Bambrook and Neil at Ballina. I had completed more than 150km of the 193km trek from Brisbane to Byron (the photo shows 183km, it dropped out of satellite range along Tyagarah Beach), to raise money to take friends and fellow natural therapy colleagues, Colleen Cheketri and Micheal Boston with me to Bangladesh. There we treated over 300 children, dispensed supplements and taught parents and carers and our wonderful Bangladeshi team (MD Yasin Arafat, Eva Mariyam, Dhs Sahadat Hakim, SAkib, Papon Papi, Kirsty Joy, Wochena Manush, Rajon Chowdhury, Ishrat Zuna, Taohida Sarkar Runa, Projonmo Sarkar (Preeanca) and Linda) the finer points of Bowen Massage, to continue this work after we left. I miss you all so much. You have so little, yet, you gave everything in your hearts and home to us. Salam Alikum my dear friends. There were so many others who helped fundraise, and I’m eternally grateful to you all for the efforts you put forth to assist so selflessly.
My eldest son, Luke Haran married Jessica Pixal. Such a beautiful couple.
Then came sweet and lovin Eri Nakai into my life. You are such a gem. You patiently guided me and helped in so many ways. It was so much fun teaching you Australian slang. I miss you tremendously (Eri returned to Japan at the end of October, via a month stint doing Bowen on the children at Jembaten Senang school in Bali). I wish I could’ve been there with you.
While I was away in Bangladesh, two new additions came into my family…one was my youngest Grandson, Spencer and the other was a beloved cat, Figgy. Although, technically, he’s Julie Anderson’s cat, he is still a part of my family.
A week long trip to Rockhampton for the sake of it with good friend, Peter O’Donnell.
Then came CC (Chama CV). A student from Thailand, and very shy at first, she too learned many Australian sayings and useful words. I’m sure she is teaching these infamous expressions of ‘Stray’in to many of her Thai friends back in Bangkok.
Another overseas trip, this time to India, more as a holiday this time (though I did scope out places where the Oasis Foundation team could work with sick and disabled children). My friend, Peter K and I had won 2 weeks of this trip to Goa, back in 2014, when we’d travelled to Bali for the first time. The highlight was seeing and touching the Taj Mahal. One of my bucket list items crossed off…tick.
A trip to Canberra for a weekend course with Russell Sturgess.
A number of health issues kept plaguing me throughout 2016, mainly because I wouldn’t slow down, despite constant reminders by my Oasis Health Centres team to do so. I had become so used to caring for others’ needs first, that taking time out for me was a foreign concept. Over time, the necessity to sit still with myself became apparent as my health worsened. I’m listening with both ears now.
I had two other therapists join me throughout the year, as well as do admin for the Centre. Thank you Gaelle Mandala and Josh Nixon for all the hard work you’ve put in. You both deserve medals for what you’ve had to deal with (me mostly hahaha).
I visited my eye specialist, Dr Mark Loane, and booked my cataract surgery in for end of January and end of February 2017. I will be so glad to see better. Trying to see when I just cannot, takes up lots of energy. Being constantly tired is awful. The brilliance of the surgery will be that I get to see in 3D for the first time in my life. Up to now, it’s been 2D. That will be a very big WOW experience for me. After my eyes have settled with those surgeries, then I go in again to have the strabismus corrected (my eyes cross significantly because of only seeing in 2D). I will feel confident around people, men particularly. I’m so self-conscious when talking to people knowing that my eyes are going in different directions. Giving a good-looking guy ‘the eye’ is useless when not even he can tell which I’m giving him…hahaha. Good to know my friends love me despite my wonky eyes.
Today, I went down to Tweed Heads South where I grew up to scatter my Grandmothers ashes in the Tweed River (Terranora Inlet actually). I expected to feel some emotion about the whole process, yet there was nothing. I guess all the processes, treatments and Kahuna purges I’ve had over the last 4years since she died, have cleared her thoroughly out of my system. I’m glad, because she was hooked into me big time (or rather, I wasn’t letting her go readily is more like it).
Lastly, I moved house a week ago. I found it increasing difficult to maintain my business at the standard I had a couple of years ago. Circumstances in my life have been changing, and I’m flowing in a different direction now. I am being moved into teaching what I know about Bowen Therapy (and all the other modalities I’ve learned along the way). I held my first Baby Bowen course only a month ago. It was exciting. And there’s more to come for 2017. So the move to a smaller house (7bedroom to a 2bedroom) was a massive one. I will certainly be staying put for a while. That zapped what little energy I had. Now comes the healing and restoring. Good thing it’s New Years Day tomorrow. What a tremendous way to start the new year.
I’ve made lots of new friends this year, restored some old friendships of 35+ years (Donna Hendry and the rest of the TRHS crew-Trudy Ray, Barry Clough, Cindy Bowley, Carl Vidler, Sarah-Jayne, Karen, Mandy Healey, and many others), bitten off more than I could chew, had some incredible life-changing adventures, and created a bit of peace and tranquility in my life.
May you too have exciting and wonderfully fulfilling adventures in your life in 2017. Your health is vitally important. You only have one body. Look after it well. Once you damage it, it’s harder (if not near impossible) to restore it to its former glory. Keep your heart open to restore relationships that have gone by the wayside. It’s not easy to let go of the hurt and forgive, however, it does feel real good when it happens. Family is the first relationship-building exercise you experience. If you burn those bridges, rowing across treacherous and often stormy waters, could take a massive toll on your health. (See the note about health in the above text) Love completely with open heart and arms….you never know who might step in to hug you…and finally, let go of the circumstances of people that cause you great energy loss (the energy vampires). You need exhilarating experiences and authentic loving people who will give you energy. Make 2017 your new beginning to step up to a best version of YOU. Have a wonderful and Happy New Year (I love the sparkles when I type in Happy New Year…it’s special!! Try it for yourself and make someone else’s day/night special too).